First Sunday of Advent

Gospel – Matthew 24:37-44

Be Prepared

Advent Wreath at Home

Little Johnny wanted a red bicycle for Christmas. But he knew that he was not that much of a ‘good boy’ this year, always getting into trouble and not minding his parents.  So, he didn’t think writing a letter to Santa would do the trick.  So, he decided to skip the middleman and go straight to the top - a letter to Jesus!

He went upstairs and started writing. Dear Jesus, I’ve been a great boy this year and I would really like a red bike for Christmas.  Well, that wouldn’t work; so he crumpled it up and threw it away. “Dear Jesus, I’ve been a good boy Some of the time this year.” Crumpled up. Thrown away. And he tried again.  Dear Jesus, I COULD be a good boy if you would only give me a red bike for Christmas.  Again in frustration, he tossed the letter into the garbage can.

Finally he decides to go for a walk to clear his head.  So Little Johnny went and put on his coat and walked to church.  When he went into church, he went up and looked at the beautiful Christmas manger scene – Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, the animals and the shepherds.  He looked around to see if anyone was watching him and then he quickly grabbed the statue of Mary, stuck it under his coat and raced back home. 

When he got home, he wrapped up the statue with towels and then buried it in his closet.  Then he sat down one last time to write his letter!

Dear Jesus – if you ever want to see Your mother again, you will give me a red bicycle for Christmas!

I think we can all agree – Johnny has a few ‘issues’!  Getting into trouble, disobeying his parents!  And yet I think the worst is – he’s not prepared!  He’s had a whole year to be a ‘good boy’ and then he waits til the very last minute to try and salvage his reputation, his Christmas! 

We celebrate today a new liturgical season, a new liturgical year!  We celebrate the First Sunday of Advent.  So if no one has bothered to say it yet – Happy New Year!  Advent comes from the Latin word ‘adventus’ which means ‘arrival’.  The adventus was a ceremony in ancient Rome, in which an emperor was formally welcomed back into the city of Rome, especially after a successful military campaign. 

The people of Rome certainly did not just sit around and wait for the Emperor’s return.  Preparations needed to be made, and not at the last minute! Statues would be sculpted; special coins would be minted to commemorate the occasion!  Preparations were joyful, hopeful and celebratory! 

We hear a similar message in today’s Gospel – simple words - stay awake, be alert, be prepared!  Be prepared for the coming of the Savior!

You already know all the preparations you went through to celebrate our Day of Giving Thanks!  You know all the work and cleaning and cooking and all the planning you had to do to make it a day worth celebrating.

And you know all the preparations that lie ahead in order to celebrate Christmas day!  Trees and lights and ornaments, presents to be bought online more so than in person, all the mailing of Christmas cards and gifts, that Christmas dinner to plan and celebrate!  

We spend so much time prepping for Thanksgiving and for Christmas.  But Jesus reminds us that it’s not just about preparing our homes.  We are called to prepare our hearts and spirit as well.  This is not a passive exercise; we can’t just sit around and wait, and do nothing til the last minute, like Johnny!!  It’s not just about staying awake and alert!  We are called to be active, in prayer and in service to others. 

So what are we waiting for?  Light your Advent candles; make the Advent wreath the focus of your daily life these 25 days.  Leave the light on for the Master!  Be Prepared!